The TLTOTS was a wonderful place out in the middle of nowhere. Guy Little, the director, brought in some major talent and presented many of Broadways best musicals. The Little Theatre was a major cultural draw in Central Illinois and it was there that many people were first exposed to theater.
I have a photo from 1929 of the Lincoln Square Theatre in Decatur,Illinois showing a sign hanging under the marquee. It is a bit different that the one you describe. This sign is probably 4-5 long and 2-3 feet high. It has icicles running along the top and bottom and a polar bear standing on a block of ice to the right of the sign. The wording shouts “BEAT the HEAT”. Even those words had small icicles hanging from them.
A few years later, a sign hung under the marquee that proclaimed, “AIR COOLED”.
he first part of the renovation has been completed and the city of Decatur has given the theatre’s not-for-profit corporation its blessing to reopen.
Much infrastructure work has been accomplished. New HVAC systems were installed and new bathrooms put in, including a handicapped accessible restroom on the main floor middle lobby. Dressing rooms and a new green room were built under the stage.
Evergreen Studios has done extensive work in the newly restored middle lobby as well as in the back lobby and in the auditorium, where the prescenium arch and one of fronts of the mezzanone box seas were repainted to match original colors.
There is much left to do in the next phase of the restortion.
I know that this is way off subject, but the nickname of the Cobden high school sports teams is the Appleknockers. One of the great monickers in high school sports.
The front of the Lincoln was damaged in the early 1960’s when the building next door caught on fire. The upper story of the facade and the lobby were to damaged to fix so the top was removed and the two story front became a one story.
Check out Playhouse Square in Cleveland and Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL, The Paramount Theatre in Anderson, IN played a big part in helping anderson’s downtown area make a comeback. These projects were an instrumental part of revitalizing downtown areas. Personally, I think that a theater can start a downtown on the path to revitalization, but it is usually not the only factor.
Also, contact the Main Street Project for some background information. I believe that the MSP is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The Woodstock Opera House was featured in the Bill Murray movie “Ground Hog Day”. The opera house was resigned and the front became the entrance to the hotel.
The facade of the Granda is considered by many to be the model for the Paradise Theatre featured on the front and back cover of the STYX album “Paradise Theatre”. The marquee is not modeled after the Granada’s.
The TLTOTS was a wonderful place out in the middle of nowhere. Guy Little, the director, brought in some major talent and presented many of Broadways best musicals. The Little Theatre was a major cultural draw in Central Illinois and it was there that many people were first exposed to theater.
Yes there is a Portland, Wisconsin.
Portland is a town in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,106 at the 2000 census.
Does anyone know if there is a theater in Portland?
DuPage people – both sides – please go away and fight amongst yourselves privately.
I have a photo from 1929 of the Lincoln Square Theatre in Decatur,Illinois showing a sign hanging under the marquee. It is a bit different that the one you describe. This sign is probably 4-5 long and 2-3 feet high. It has icicles running along the top and bottom and a polar bear standing on a block of ice to the right of the sign. The wording shouts “BEAT the HEAT”. Even those words had small icicles hanging from them.
A few years later, a sign hung under the marquee that proclaimed, “AIR COOLED”.
he first part of the renovation has been completed and the city of Decatur has given the theatre’s not-for-profit corporation its blessing to reopen.
Much infrastructure work has been accomplished. New HVAC systems were installed and new bathrooms put in, including a handicapped accessible restroom on the main floor middle lobby. Dressing rooms and a new green room were built under the stage.
Evergreen Studios has done extensive work in the newly restored middle lobby as well as in the back lobby and in the auditorium, where the prescenium arch and one of fronts of the mezzanone box seas were repainted to match original colors.
There is much left to do in the next phase of the restortion.
I know that this is way off subject, but the nickname of the Cobden high school sports teams is the Appleknockers. One of the great monickers in high school sports.
For many years a group has given haunted theater tours on Halloween at the Lincoln Square Theatre in Dectur, IL.
The front of the Lincoln was damaged in the early 1960’s when the building next door caught on fire. The upper story of the facade and the lobby were to damaged to fix so the top was removed and the two story front became a one story.
Check out Playhouse Square in Cleveland and Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL, The Paramount Theatre in Anderson, IN played a big part in helping anderson’s downtown area make a comeback. These projects were an instrumental part of revitalizing downtown areas. Personally, I think that a theater can start a downtown on the path to revitalization, but it is usually not the only factor.
Also, contact the Main Street Project for some background information. I believe that the MSP is part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Who can we send an email of support to within the city? Please provide contact information.
Ross, Just saw you on CBS Sunday Morning. I hope this helps book sales and rasing more awareness of the remaining historic theaters.
Dave
The Woodstock Opera House was featured in the Bill Murray movie “Ground Hog Day”. The opera house was resigned and the front became the entrance to the hotel.
The facade of the Granda is considered by many to be the model for the Paradise Theatre featured on the front and back cover of the STYX album “Paradise Theatre”. The marquee is not modeled after the Granada’s.